A festival for older people was a “big success” but there was also an “underlying sadness over the impending doom” of the Highbury day centre which hosted it.

Islington Gazette: Sotheby Festival 08.09.18. Bolder Voices choir. Picture: Polly HancockSotheby Festival 08.09.18. Bolder Voices choir. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

The centre was packed with more than 100 attendees for the Sotheby Mews festival last Saturday, where guests enjoyed free music and entertainment.

But resistance was in the air over Islington Council’s plan to demolish the centre and replace it with affordable housing.

Many festival-goers wore “save Sotheby Mews” T-shirts, signalling their malcontent with the delayed proposal to move the centre’s activities into the redeveloped Highbury Roundhouse.

Rosie Litterick, who organised the event, said: “It was good for the community because so many people turned up and it highlighted what we would all be losing is we close this centre.

Islington Gazette: Sotheby Festival 08.09.18. Sotheby Mews centre user and campaigner Yvonne Nayor gives an emotional speech about saving the centre from the proposed site development. Pictured with special guest, Deputy Mayor of Islington Cllr Rakhia Ismail. Picture: Polly HancockSotheby Festival 08.09.18. Sotheby Mews centre user and campaigner Yvonne Nayor gives an emotional speech about saving the centre from the proposed site development. Pictured with special guest, Deputy Mayor of Islington Cllr Rakhia Ismail. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

“So there was an underlying sadness over the impending doom of the centre – but overall it went really well and there were people having fun.

“It was also really nice how people of different ages mixed – It was a big success.”

Islington Gazette: Sotheby Festival 08.09.18. From left, Irma Gomez, Cllr Rakhia Ismail deputy Maor of Islington, Jackie Noone, party organiser Rosie Litterick, David Holman as Elvis, Cllr Caroline Russell and front Yvonne Naylor. Picture: Polly HancockSotheby Festival 08.09.18. From left, Irma Gomez, Cllr Rakhia Ismail deputy Maor of Islington, Jackie Noone, party organiser Rosie Litterick, David Holman as Elvis, Cllr Caroline Russell and front Yvonne Naylor. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)